US nuclear submarine leaked radiation over 2 years
<script>diggit();LinkToThis()</script>
Link to this page
<textarea id="link2this" cols="50" rows="6" style="display: none;" readonly="readonly"><a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/US+nuclear+submarine+leaked+radiation+over+2+years-a01611600183">US nuclear submarine leaked radiation over 2 years</a></textarea>
An American nuclear-powered submarine leaked radiation for more than two years, releasing the bulk of the material in its home port of Guam and at
Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor, land-locked harbor, on the southern coast of Oahu island, Hawaii, W of Honolulu; one of the largest and best natural harbors in the E Pacific Ocean. In the vicinity are many U.S. military installations, including the chief U.S. , Japanese and U.S. officials said Thursday.
On Aug. 1, the U.S. Navy notified Japan that the
USS Houston Four United States Navy ships have borne the name
Houston, after the city of Houston, Texas.
- Houston (AK-1), a transport during World War I
- Houston (CA-30), a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1930, sunk in 1942
- Houston
had leaked water containing small amounts of radiation during three calls to the southern Japanese ports of Sasebo and Okinawa in March and April this year but caused no threat to people or the environment.
The U.S. Navy released a detailed chronology of the leaks over the past two years, showing that the cumulative radioactivity released was less than 9.3 micro curies — with 8 micro curies released in Guam alone. By comparison,
according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.
2. In keeping with: according to instructions.
3. the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and , the average amount of radioactivity in a
smoke detector smoke detector
n.
An alarm device that automatically detects the presence of smoke. Also called
smoke alarm. is about one micro curie, or 1 millionth of a curie.
<script type="text/javascript">write_ads(2,1)</script>
Ads by GoogleACN Nuclear Medicine
BMD devices, Dexa devices for osteoporosis and nuclear medicine
www.acn.itScintillation counting
Wipe tests, water monitoring, alpha beta and gamma radiation detection
www.hidex.com
Navy Commander
Jeff Davis Jeff Davis may refer to:
- Jeff Davis (comedian) (born 1973)
- Jeff Davis (horse), one of Ulysses S. Grant's horses in the American Civil War
- Jeff Davis (football player), professional NFL football player, member of Clemson's 1981 national championship team
said the Houston is still in Hawaii being repaired and the reactor is turned off. Once the leak was discovered last month, the Navy provided detailed data to the
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) is a research and development facility dedicated to the support of the US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program — a joint program of the United States Navy and United States Department of Energy, responsible for the research, design, — a government facility — to determine exactly how much radiation had leaked over the two year time period, Davis said.
The amount is so small, he said, that the Navy terms it a "weepage" rather than a leak. The problem was discovered on July 17, when about a gallon of water spilled onto a crew member when a fitting came loose. The water had previously come in contact with the reactor, but no radioactivity was detected on the sailor.
The radiation leak has caused a stir in Japan where the continued presence of the U.S. military and its nuclear vessels draw complaints from residents about crime, noise and pollution linked to some 50,000 American servicemen based in the country. The presence of nuclear submarines is particularly sensitive, given that Japan is the only country the U.S. ever used atomic bombs against in the closing days of World War II.
"If we add all radiation leaked at every Japanese port, it would be still smaller than the amount of naturally occurring radioactivity found inside home smoke detectors," the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement accompanying its release of the U.S. report. "Japan also has found no abnormality in its monitoring results during Houston's port calls since June 2006."
News of the incident also comes just weeks ahead of the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
USS George Washington Four ships of the United States Navy have been named
USS George Washington in honor of an early American General and first President of the United States.
- The first George Washington was purchased on 12 October 1798 and served for less than four years.
to be based in Yokosuka, just south of Tokyo.
Davis said the problem would not affect the
USS George USS George has been the name of two ships in the United States Navy.
- USS George (DE-276) was assigned to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease program, in June of 1943.
Washington's move.
"This goes to show the people of Japan and the government of Japan that they can be reassured that the
United States Navy United States Navy
Major branch of the U.S. military forces, charged with defending the nation at sea and maintaining security on the seas wherever U.S. interests extend. The Continental Navy was established by the Continental Congress in 1775. will be forthright in disclosing details about any inadvertent release of radioactivity, even when it is extremely small."
The George Washington's arrival, originally set for August under a Japan-U.S. security alliance, was delayed until late September because of a fire aboard the vessel in May, another incident that has caused safety concerns in Japan.
According to the Navy's chronology, the Houston released 8 micro curies in its home port of Guam and .4 micro curies in Pearl Harbor. In addition to the leaks in Japan — a total of .605 micro curies at the three ports — , the ship also released small amounts of radiation during port visits in Singapore, Port Kelang, Malaysia; and Saipan.
___
Associated Press Writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report from Washington.